Manufacture of metal stock



April 21, 1936. R F GIBBS 2,038,278

MANUFACTURE OF METAL STOCK Filed 00%,. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR Ralph F. Gibbs,

ATTORNEY April 21, 1936. R F, GIBBS 2,038,278

' MANUFACTURE OF METAL STOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1934mifllflh-r 4 INVENTOR $2514 I Ralph? Gibbs,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1936,

STATES MANUFACTURE or METAL'STOCK Ralph F. Gibbs, Norton, Mass.,assignor to The Improved Seamless Wire Company, Providence, R. 1., acorporation of Rhode Island Application October 25, 1934, Serial No.749,960

v 12 Claims. (C1. 29-148 of the method forming the subject of my inven-.My invention relates to the manufacture of specially shaped sheet orstrip metal stock, available for many uses in the arts.

In carrying out my invention, I may operate upon various metals; metalsof the ferrous type, alloys of various kinds, as well asprecious andsemi-precious metals, such as gold and silver; In particular, I haveoperated upon strip metal of the type familiarly known as,stainlesssteel",

whose composition is more or less well known,

preferring to employ that form of stainless steel which contains a smallpercentage of molybdenum.

The particular object of my invention is to provide thin strip metal,usually in relatively narrow widths, with a turned, folded, or curlededge (or a plurality of turned, folded, or curled edges) subsequentlyflattened so as to produce, lengthwise of such stripwhich may be of any0 convenientlengtha thickened edge wherein the displaced metal has beenstressed beyond its elastic limit and is closely folded against and heldin intimate and permanent contact with the main body of the metal stripoperated upon.

5 Afurther object of my invention is to effect the production of rolled,and/or curled and subsequently flattened thickened edges at both sidesof a strip of metal; such thickened edges being produced, simultaneouslyand by a series of simultaneous steps.

And a still further object of my invention is to effect the productionof relatively wider strips of metal with thickened edges simultaneouslproduced in a series of steps.

5 The several features of my invention are more fully pointed outhereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more orless diagrammatic in character, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, of

) a strip of metal, somewhat enlarged, in the form it presentspreparatory to carrying out the operations forming the subject of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe metal strip shown in Fig. 1. I I

i Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of means which may be employed incarrying out the first step of the method forming the subject of myinvention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary viewof the same character as Fig. 3,illustrating means which may be employed in carrying out the second stepof the method'forming the subject of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the same character as Figs. 3 and 4,illustrating means which i may be employed in carrying out the" finalstep tion.

Figs. 3 4 and 5 are end views of the metal strip after carrying out thefirst, second, and final steps in the operation of my improved method,respectively. 1

Fig. 3 is an end view of the metal strip showing a shape that may beimparted to the edge thereof between the first and second operationsheretofore referred to.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of. the final form of the metalstrip following the' operations carried out by the means illustrated inFigs. 3, 4, and 5. v

Figs. '7, 8, and 9 are views similar to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, illustratingmeans which may be employed in turning, curling or foldingand'flattening down both edges of the .strip simu1taneously.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9* are end views of the strip following the operationscarried out by the means shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, respectively.

Fig. 7 is an end View of the metal strip showing a shape thatmay beimparted to therespective edges of the same betweenthe operationseffected by the means illustrated in Figs. '1, and 8,

. respectively.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a strip of double-width metal which may haveboth edges turned and flattened down simultaneously in accordance withthe method forming the subject of my invention. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 areend views illustrating successive stages of operations performedsimultaneously upon a strip of double-width metal, involving amodification of the method form'- ing the subject of my invention.

- Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the double-width strip showingboth side edges in'the finished flattened condition.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view substantially on the line 'XV XV, Fig. 3,illustrating adetail of the operation forming the subject of myinvention,

I and Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view, greatly enlarged, of the finallyfolded, compressed, and thickened edge of the metal strip formed inaccordance'with my invention.

Thebehavior of metal undergoing rolling, or combined rolling anddrawing, operations is a matter peculiar to the character of metaloperated upon, and the manner .of passing it throughthe rolls and/ordies. In carrying out my in ention, I deform or upset the edge (oredges) of a thin strip of metal, having a thick-"'- ness rangingfromapproximately .008" to approximately .015, to produce at such edge (orfolding, or doubling of the edge (or edges) is being indicated at Fig.3.

The second step inthe production of the thickcarried out in a series ofseparate steps, although it is conceivable that it may be carriedthrough as a continuous operation in a succession of stages. I

The manner of operating upon the edge of the metal strip is in thenature of a combined rolling and drawing operation. The metal strip ispassed between the rolls having the function of dies; such rolls beingconstructed and arranged to impart to the edge (or edges) of the metalstrip the desired conformation as the latter is drawn between the same.In carrying out this operation, the metal strip isnengaged by. tractionmeans, common in the art, and is drawn between the rolls simultaneouslywith the rotation of the latter; the combined operation producing thedesired conformation at the edge (or edges) of the strip operated upon.

While many metals are available for use in carrying out my invention andin the production of the final product, I have successfully employedthat particular form of ferrous metal known as stainless steel; and inparticular have used the form of stainless steel containing a smallquantity of molybdenum. This metal is hard, tough, and admirably adaptedfor many uses in the arts. The thickened edges have a particular purposeor function which will be pointed out hereinafter.

In-Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated a fragment of a strip ofmetal, indicated at H], at least one of whose edges is to be turned andfolded down into intimate and permanent contact with the body thereof.This strip is of the same thick ness throughout its extent, is rolledflat, and is usually coiled for convenience of subsequent use. Incarrying out my invention for the formation of a doubled, thickened edgeat one side of this strip, I may employ means such as indicated in Fig.3, comprising a pair of rolls A and B between which the strip I0 ispassed, the roll A having an annular groove a at one side face intowhich one edge of the strip will be crowded, and the roll B havingflanges 1) between I rolls are in operative relation with respect to theinterposed strip of metal and traction is applied to the latter, oneedge, indicated at. II, will be turned into the recess formed by theannular groove a at the bite of the rolls. The result of this work-is tobend or stress the metal beyond its elastic limit and raise one edge ofthe metal in the form of a flange at substantially a right angle to themain' portion of the strip; an end view of the strip after it has passedthe rolls A and B I ened edge consists in passing the flanged stripshown in Figs. 3 and 3? between a pair of rolls 6 and Djof the charactershown in Fig. 4, withwhich rolls 0 and D side rolls E and F areassociated; one of said latter rolls being of the Turksthe roll F servesto maintain the strip in proper position to insurethat the curling,turning, or

folding 'over of the flange ll of the strip ill will be properlyaccomplished. An end view of the strip of metal after it has passed therolls C, D, E, and F is shown in 'Fig. 4 v

The strip is nowready to have the folded or curled edge ll flatteneddown against the body of the strip and into intimate and permanentcontact therewith and, for this step in the method of operation, Ipreferably employ a, pair of rolls of the type illustrated in Fig. 3;such rolls being illustrated at G and H in Fig. 5. Inthis arrangement,the roll G will have an annular groove g at one side of its operativeface, of. a depth substantially the same as, or exactly the thickness ofthe metal turned over and the roll" H will have I flanges it betweenwhich the roll G operates; such flanges serving. to maintain the metalstrip in proper position laterally and insure that the of the metalstrip, as indicated at H. An end view of the strip of metal after it haspassed the rolls G and H is illustrated in Fig. 5, and a fragmentaryperspective view of the same is shown in Fig. 6. In this condition ofthe thickened edge, the turned over and flattened down portion has beensubstantially roll-forged and permanently stressed beyond the elasticlimit of the metal.

The thickened edge may have its outer side-or face in a planesubstantially normal to the plane of the metal strip, with roundedcorners at II and as indicated in Fig. 16. The extent of this roundingmay depend in some measure upon the pressure exerted by the groovedportion g of the roll G against the roll H and\the position the metalstrip occupies at the bite of the rolls. If the outer side or face ofthe thickened edge is more or less rounded, it may facilitate furthertreatment in some of the uses to which the metal strip having suchpermanently, thickened edge is put.

While I have described in the foregoing and have illustrated means foreffecting in three steps or stages of operation the desired flanging,curling, or turning, andsubsequent flattening down of an edge of themetal strip, it may be necessary or desirable to impart an intermediateoperation to the flanged edge of the metal strip between the operationseffected by the means illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 3 I haveshown the flange l I of the metal strip illustrated in Fig. 3" slightlybent inwardly in a diagonal direction,

'- as indicated at Il ,,such condition, if necessary,

facilitating passage of the metal strip between the rolls C, D, E, andF, wherein-the groove e of the roll E effects thecompleteturning orcurling of the flanged portion in preparation for the flnal step offlattening down such turned or curled e e.

' While" it is'possible to roll a single thickened edge upon anarrow,strip of metal with precision and relative economy, ithap'pens'that the act or the succession of acts or steps in theproduction of this single thickened edge tends to produce strains orstresses in some forms of metal than'carrnot be compensated for;resulting m neproduction of a-strip with a wavy edge opposite thethickened edge and, additionally, dGStIOYn ingthe flat condition of theoriginal strip; a defect that may be of consequence inthe subsequent useof the metal strip with the thickenededge. This condition isparticularly noticeable in the operation of rolling and/0r drawingstainless steel of the moly type.

. 2,038,278 In carrying out the production of a thickened mannerproposed, are compensated for, and that,

strip from this first stage of the operation; theflanges being indicatedat II, is illustrated in Fig. 7. From this stage of the operation, the

metal strip with the flanged edges passes to the series of rolls C, D,E, and E illustrated in Fig. 8; the rolls E and E beingrolls of theTurks-head type having the semicircular annular grooves eand e whicheifect the folding or curling of the flanges II produced by passagebetween the rolls A and B. An end view of the metal strip following thisoperationthe folded or curled edges being indicated at II is illustratedin Fig. 8

Fig. 9 shows a pair of rolls G and. H of substantially the same type asthose illustrated in Fig. 5, excepting that the roll G will have itsface annularly recessed at both edges of the same, as indicated at g, soas to finally bend over and flatten down against the main body of themetal strip, the turned or curled edges II produced bypassage betweenthe rolls C, D, E, and E An end view of the metal shown in Fig. 9-theflattened portions being indicated at I I -is illustrated in Fig. 9

While I have described in the foregoing and have illustrated means foreffecting in three steps or stages of operation the desired flanging,curling, or turning, and subsequent flattening down of both edges of themetal strip simultaneously, it may be necessary or desirable to impartan intermediate operation to the flanged edges of the metal stripbetween the operations effected by the means illustrated in Figs. 7 and8. In Fig. W,

E efiect the complete turning or curling of the flanged portions I I inpreparation for the final step of flattening down such turned curlededges.

While the metal produced in, the manner illustrated and described in theforegoing is applicable for many uses in the arts, it has particularadvantages in the manufacture of pens; pens made a from a special metalstrip of such type being described and claimed in the application ofLeon Hehl Ashmore, filed July 27, 1934, Serial No. 737,307.

With stock of the character made in accordance with the method ofmanufacture illustrated anddescribed with respect to Figs. 3, 4', and 5,pens blanked therefromwill face in one direction, the

thickened end of the stock forming the writing tip point of the pen. Inthe use of stock of the character formed in accordance with the meansillustrated in Figsfll, 8, and 9, and described in relation thereto, thepens may be blanked in either direction; either thickened edge servingas the thickened portion at the writing tip point of the pen.

It may very well be that certain limitations in the ,rollingoperationwill prevent, by reason of the strains and stresses due to the rollingoperation, the use of a strip greater in width than one permitting theblanking of single pens transversely of the same. On the other hand, itis possible that wider strips might be employed from which aplurality ofpens might be blanked transversely of the same if, in the rollingoperation,

compensation is made for the strains and stresses that might beproduced. To this end, I have illustrated, in Figs. 10, 11-, 12, 13, and14 a strip of metal, indicated at I00, of substantially double the widthof that illustrated in the other views, in which there is produced,simultaneously with the steps necessary to turn over and flatten downeach side edge of the same, a central rib or projection I2 continuouslyformed, which rib progressively increases in depth contemporaneouslywith the draft of the metal through the respective sets of rolls; thedeformation of the metal strip at this central point relieving thestresses and strains incident to the rolling and/ or drawing operation.In Fig,- 11, for instance, the rib is substantially the depth of theflanges I Ill produced by the first pass. In Fig. 12, the rib I2 ismaterially deeper,

and is applied during the curling or folding over of the flanges, asindicated at I I0, and in Fig. 13, .the central rib I2 is materiallydeepened for relieving those stresses which might be occasioned by theflattening down of the turned edges, indicated at Hu The improved methodforming the subject of my invention has been applied to the productionof thickened edges upon a strip of stainless steel, a materialparticularly available for the manufacture ofypens with. a thickenedportionat the writing tip end of the same; such, for instance, as thatdescribed in the Ashmore application before referred to. It will beunderstood, however, that I do not wish to be limited to the use ofstainless steel in carrying out-the method forming the subject of myinvention, and that such method, in all of its details, may be employedin forming thickened edges upon strips of various types of metals,whether or not available for use in the manufacturing of writing pens.

In view of the nature .of many metals operated upon, it is highlyessential that the strip be guided in exact parallelism to therespective rolls for turning or flanging, curling or folding and finallyflattening down the turned or flanged edge, and I have found itdesirable to feed the J strip to the rolls from a'point below the same,

inthe manner indicated in Fig. 15, wherein it will be noted that thestrip is directed to the rolls A and B, from a point below the same, sovthat the flanges b of the roll B, for instance,,

may have contact with the edges of the metal strip to a greater extentthan if such strip was fedto such rolls horizontally, or as indicated bythe dotted line z.- p

Ihave shown in Figs. 3? and 7 views indicating a shape which has beentermed intermediate between the shapes illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and.7 and 8. When the shapes illustrated in Figs, 3 and '7 have been made'itmay be possible to eliminate the step producing the shape shown in Figs.4 and 8 and the metal formed in the shape illustrated in Fig. 3 or 7 mayproceed directly to the flattening operation; the result of which isillustrated in Figs. 5 and 9 Reference has been made in thespecification to a method of preparing this stock with a thickenededgeby a combined rolling and drawing operation to produce a substantiallyroll-forged, flattened-down portion. There may be metals and there maybe times when a rolling operation alone will be. sufficient to effectthe desired deformation of the metal edge or edges and the finalflattening thereof, and there may be times when a drawing operationalone will effect the same result. It will be understood therefore thatmy claims are to be understood as covering a drawing operation, arolling operation, and combined rolling and drawing operations.

While I have described with some particularity one method of forming athickened edge (or edges) upon a metal strip, it will be understood thatI do not wish to be limited to the exact forming pen points and thelike, the steps of first bending an edge portion of a strip of thinmetal to form a flange overlying the main body of the strip and finallydrawing and roll-forging said flange into intimate and permanent contactwith the main body of the strip, whereby a thickened edge of narrowWidth is obtained.

A 2. In the manufacture of metal stock for forming pen points and thelike, the steps of first bending an edge portion of a strip of thinalloy steel to form a flange overlying the main body of the strip andfinally drawing and rollforging said flange into'intimate and permanentcontact with the main body of the strip, whereby a thickened edge ofnarrow width is obtained.

3. In the' manufacture of metal stock for forming pen points and thelike, the steps of first bending an edge portion-of a strip ofthinstainless steel to form a flange overlying the main body of thestrip and finally drawing and roll-forging said flange into intimate andpermanent contact with the main body of the strip, whereby a thickenededge of narrow width is obtained. I

4. In the manufacture of metal stock for forming pen points and thelike, the steps of first bendingan edge portion of a strip of thin metalto form a fiange,curling or folding said flange against the main body.of the stripand finally drawing and roll-forging said fiangeintointimate and permanent contact with the main body of the strip, wherebyathickened edge of a narrow width is obtained.

5. In the manufacture of metal stock for forming pen points and thelike, the steps of first bending an edge portion of a strip of thinalloy steel to form a flange, curling or folding said flange against themain body of the strip and finally drawing and roll-forging said flangeinto body of the strip, whereby a thickened edge of,

narrow width is obtained.

'7. Metal stock for forming pen points and the like, consisting of astrip of thin metal having one edge turned over and drawn andsubstantially roll-forged down against the body of the strip in intimateand permanent contact therewith, forming a thickened edge of narrowwidth.

8. Metal stock forming pen points and the like, consisting of a strip ofthin alloy"s teel having one edge turned over and drawn andsubstantially roll-forged down against the body of the strip in intimateand permanent contact therewith, forming a thickened edge of narrowwidth. a

9. Metal stock forforming pen points and the like, consisting of a stripof stainless steel having one edge turned over and drawn andsubstantially roll-forged down against the body of the strip in intimateand permanent contact therewith, forming a thickened edge of narrowwidth. V

10. Metal stock for forming pen points and the like, consisting of astrip of thin metal hav-. ing its edges turned over and drawn andsubstantially roll-forged down against the body of the strip in intimateand permanent contact therewith, forming a thickened edge of narrowwidth.

11. Metal stock for forming pen points and the like, consisting of astrip of thin alloy steel having its edges turned over and drawn andsubstantially roll-forged downaga'inst the body of the strip in intimateand permanent contact therewith, forming a thickened edge of narrowwidth. I

-l2. Metal stock for forming pen points and the like, consisting of astrip of thin stainless steel having its edges turned over and drawn andsubstantially roll-forged down against the body of the strip in intimateand permanent contact therewith, forming a thickened edge of narrowwidth. 5

RALPH F. GIBBS.

